Page 127 of Extra Dirty

“What if we have a baby and then I get sick?” I ask, admitting my worst fear. I refuse to let it suck me down, but that doesn’t keep me from blinking back tears. “I can’t do it, Soph. I can’t lose them again. I just got them back.”

“You aren’t losing anyone. And they aren’t losing you. Let Jay in. Tell him your fears. Go to the fucking doctor and deal with it.”

“But what if…” I whisper into the wind.

The leaves above my head swirl, almost as though they’ll carry my worries away if I let them. Tipping my head back, I watch them, immediately catching sight of the one person who has always had the ability to calm me. And he’s standing on the roof of this house, dressed in a tuxedo and frowning into the distance. “Soph,” I whisper.

“Yeah?”

“Why is Jay standing on the roof?”

She sucks in a breath. “Go get your happily ever after, Cat. Life isn’t guaranteed. For any of us. We’re given moments. Moments that are interrupted by the everyday, by kids and orthodontist appointments, by disappointments and work failures and mundane Monday sex. By too many nights having chicken for dinner and fights we don’t remember the next day. It’s not all beautiful, but the man up there on that roof wants to do all of thatwith you.And if you only get a few years with your soulmate, isn’t that better than no time at all?”

“Well, fuck. Now I’m crying,” I mutter, swiping at my cheeks.

Her laugh crackles down the line. “Yeah, me too. But it’s because my best friend is about to get everything she’s ever dreamed of, but instead of seizing the opportunity, she’s on the phone with me.”

Jay is up there, and I’m not stupid enough to leave him waiting any longer. We’ve both waited for far too long for this moment.

And he never gave up.

I shake my head in pure wonder. Because despite all life’s challenges, I somehow found a man with that kind of dedication. “Holy shit, Soph”—I look down at my black coat—“am I dressed okay?”

She laughs. “You thought you were meeting with Sienna Langfield. Of course you are. Dexter made sure of it.”

And I’m in yellow.

I shake my head. “You all set me up.”

“You’re late,” she cries. “Go!”

* * *

Unsurprisingly,the person who opens the door greets me and leads me to the roof. With a smile, I follow, playing along with Jay’s plan.

The inside of the house is everything one could ever want. An open floor plan downstairs, with a beautiful kitchen that would be wasted on a terrible cook like me. A fireplace, already lit and crackling, sits opposite the kitchen, leaving the house smelling cozy and woodsy. On the floor before it is a pile of blankets and throw pillows and several vases filled with roses. My heart leaps, and anticipation for what Jay has planned sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach. The man doesn’t slow his pace through the house, so I rush to catch up, my heart melting at the sight of flickering candles lining the steps as we make our way to the rooftop.

I don’t get the opportunity to check out the second floor, but as we pass, I count several doors down the hallway. Rounding our way up another level, we pass the most gorgeous stained-glass window, but again, my guide doesn’t give me time to study it. The third floor is open and empty, just dark wood and natural light filtering through the windows.

“This way,” the man says, leading me toward another door.

When I reach the top of this flight of stairs, I find myself blinking into the sunlight. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust, but when they do, I suck in a sharp breath.

It’s like I’ve stepped foot inside a magical garden. Greenery everywhere, with pops of yellow. Daffodils, daisies, and calla lilies wind around the entire space.

Candles of varying sizes glitter across the rooftop.

And across from me, Jay stands under a pergola, wearing the shit out of a black Tom Ford tuxedo, his hair blowing in the breeze and his lips parting, as if I’ve stolen his words.

Fortunately, the roof is warmed by heating lamps, so I drop my coat to the ground. And in a yellow chiffon dress that hugs my curves perfectly and feathers out midcalf, I take one step, then another, toward the love of my life.

“How did I get so lucky?” Jay breathes as he holds his hand out to me, wearing an awestruck smile.

I blow out a shaky breath. “What are you doing here?”

“Forgot to give you your song today,” he says, his voice stronger now, easier.

“Oh yeah? I just figured you didn’t have one.”

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